Can washer



CAN WASHER Filed Feb. 13, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ill lull I) VEN vORfr W71 would@ ATToRNEY.

Dec. w, 1939. H. MONDLOCHy CAN WASHER Filed Feb. 13, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 ENT R.

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Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED- STATES CAN WASHER Henry Mondloch, Cedarburg, Wis.,

mesne assignments, to Fo poration, San Jose, Galli.,

Delaware assigner, by Machinery Cora corporation of Application February 13, 1937, Serial No. 125,568

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in the art of cleansing containers preparatory to lling thereof with commodities, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of ,so-called can washers for removing dirt and other deposits from the interior of successive tin cans or the like as they approach the filling machines.

Generally defined, an object of my present invention is to provide an improved receptacle cleansing machine which is simple and compact in construction, and which is moreover highly efficient in use.

Many diierent types of machines for washing tin cans or the like as they are transported in succession from a source of supply to a iilling machine, have heretofore been proposed. While some of these prior can washers are quite efficient in operation, these machines are relatively complicated and subject to frequent disorder, and therefore require an undesirable amount of attention in order to maintain them in operation. Others of the prior washers do not function entirely automatically, and do not permit sufflcient time for drainage after the washing operation has been completed. Most of the prior receptacle washing machines are also rather bulky and the parts thereof. are not conveniently accessible for inspection and cleaning thereby necessitating prolonged idleness during. repair and cleaning periods. Aside from these defects, the pridi can washers are not sufficiently foolproof inoperation, and most of them are rather obsolete and too costly to manufacture, operate and maintain; whilemany'of the previous washers do not meet the requirements of health ordinances and laws` relating to thorough cleansing and sanitation, and cannot be used to Wash some of the more modern beer packing cans.

it is therefore a more specific object of the present invention to provide an up-to-date canV washer which obviates all of these objectionable features of the prior devices of thistype, and which may be conveniently installed and operated at minimum cost.

.Another specific object of my invention is the provision of a new and useful container cleansing assemblage which is fool-proof and automatic in operation, and all parts of which are conveniently accessible for rapid inspection,. cleaning or replacement.

A further specific object of the invention is to provide an improved very compact washer assembly which may be readily installed in a can feed line, which is especially adapted to internally cleanse cap sealed beer cans, and which provides suicient' periods for ample drainage of the cans after the washing operation has been com' pleted.

Still another specic object of my invention is the provision `of a can washer having improved mechanism for transporting the successive containers to, through and from the machine and for properly positioning the receptacles relative v to the spray nozzles, without jamming or denting the relatively frail receptacles.

A n additional specific object of this invention is to provide a can cleansing mechanism having durable and well lubricated bearings and supports for the movable elements thereof, and which presents a neat and highly finished appear-l ance.v

These and other speciiic objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear, conception of an embodiment of the present invention, and of the mode of constructing and of operating a can washer built in accordance with the improvement, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specication wherein like reference characters designate the same or -similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a top view of one of the improved can washers with the closure covers and the can supply chute removed in order to clearly show the internal structure;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical -section through the machine, taken along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the can discharge portion of the washer, taken -along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of. one of the improved can washer units mounted on supporting legs;` and Fig. 5 is another perspective View of the can washing unit of Fig. 4.

While my'inventionhas been shown and described herein as having been embodied in a can Washer especially adapted to automatically and thoroughly cleanse cap sealed beer cans, it is not the intent to thereby unnecessarily restrict the scope, since some of the improved features may be more generally plicable.

Referring to the drawings, the improved can washer shown therein by way of illustration, comprises in general, a main casing 8 of generally cup-shaped and circular form having a fixed upright shaft 9 mounted centrally therein; a can transporting rotor consisting of a central supvided With 8.

port I 0, an annular driving gear II secured to the support -IU by radial fluid distributing pipes I2, and a can supporting and conveying member I3 detachably secured to the support I 0 above the gear II and pipes I2; a can supply casing I4 communicating .with a supply chute I5 and with I one side of the casing 8 and having a helical conveyor I6 and a can righting guide I1 therein; a can discharge casing I8 leading from the same side of the main casing 8 directly adjacent to the supply casing I 4, and having can discharge guides I9 'and supporting rails 20 therein; mechanism for constantly revolving the support I0 and member I3 through the gear II, and for also rotating the screw conveyor I6; means for supplying cleansing fluid to the distributing pipes I2; and independently removable covers 2|, 22 for the main casing 8 and for the auxiliary casings I4, I8, respectively. y

The auxiliary casings I4, I8 may be formed integral with each other and are rigidly attached to the side of the main casing 8 so as to form a uid receptacle, and the combined casings may be provided with suitabledrainage openings and may either be suspended from overhead structure by cleats 23 as shown in Fig. 1, or they may be supported from a floor by legs 24 as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The interior of the main casing 8 is provided with integral substantially annular guides 25 which are adapted to engage the successive cans 26 during transportation thereof about the central axis of this casing by the conveying member i3; and the main casing cover 2i has a depending annular projection 2i cooperable with the upper ends of the inverted cans 26, and is detachably secured to the casing 8 by pivot bolts 28. The vertical can supply chute i5 is detachably secured to the casings I4, I8 and has a cover extension reaching over the discharge casing I8; and thisl chute i5 communicates with any suitable source of can supply and is adapted to conduct the cans 26 in superimposed horizontal condition toward the inlet end of the casing I 4. The can righting guide I7 which is located within the supply casing I 4, is twisted and cooperates with the ight of the screw conveyor I6 in a 'manner to change the position of the successive entering cans 2'6 from horizontal` to inverted "vertical, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and

the twisted guide I1 is preferably pivotally ad-A justable so as to insure proper righting of the cans. The interiorrof the Supply casing I4 is also provided with parallel can conducting guides 29, 30 for properly delivering the inverted cans 26 from the guide I1 into the peripheral notches 3| of the member I3 as the cans are delivered from the helical conveyor I6, and the cover 22 of the casing I4 is specially formed to clear the cans and to assist in the inversion thereof. The can discharge casing I8 may also be properforated air injection pipe 20 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and is in open communication with the interior of the main casing 8 and mayalso communicate with a lling machine or the like. The guides I9 and rails 20 are. formed to conduct the inverted cans 26 through the casing I8 over the drying air injection pipe 20', while permitting final drainage thereof.

'Ihe central shaft 9 is rigidly attached to the lower central portion of the casing 8 by means of removable bolts 3 2 which also -retain a lower bearing plate 33 in position, and the support I0 is bored to snugly embrace the shaft 9 and rests upon the plate 33. The central rotary support I8 is normally retained in position upon the flxed shaft 9 by a top plate 34 secured to the shaft by areadily removable cap screw, and the shaft 9 is I provided at its lower end with a central fluid supply lport 35 the lower extremity of which communicates with a pipe 36 and the Iupper end of which is in communication with the inner ends of the distributing pipes I2 through a passage 31 formed in the pipe support I0. 'I'he can transporting member I3 is drivingly but Aremovably secured to the rotary support I0 by means of pins 38 which permit free upward withdrawal of the member I3 from the upper tubular end of the support I0 when the top plate 34 has been removed, and the can engaginglhooks or notches 3I are substantially semi-circular in shape and are provided at their lower ends with can supporting ledges 39. 'Ihe inner ends of the radial fluid distribution pipes I2 are secured to the central support I0 at the passage 31, and the outer ends of these pipes are likewise secured to nozzle supporting blocks 40 to which the ring gear II is attached by means of screws as shown in Fig. 2. Each of the supporting blocks 40 also carries a spray nozzle 4i which communicates with the adjacent pipe I2 and is directed upwardly in alinement with the axis -of the corresponding recess 3l, so that when the inverted cans 26 are being transported through the cas- .ing 8, jets of cleansing fluid are injected into the interiors thereof by the nozzles 4i. The cleansing uid supply pipe 36 has a control valve 42 and a strainer 43 therein, and may communicate with a source of fluid supply in a well known manner.

The driving mechanism for the can transporting rotor and for the screw conveyor i6, comprises a main horizontal drive shaft 44 journaled in a lower bracket 45' and having driving and idler pulleys 45, 46 respectively, associated therewith; an upright shaft 41 mounted in bearings on the bracket 45 and drivingly connected to the drive shaft 44 by bevel gearing 48; a counter shaft 49 carrying a gear 50 which drivingly connects the ring gear II with another spur gear 5I carried by the upright shaft 41; and bevel gearing 52 connecting the upper end of the shaft 41 with a conveyor screw driving shaft 53. The screw conveyor I 6 is detachably but drivingly' connected at one end to the shaft 53, and has its opposite end provided with a reduced portion coacting with a removable bearing 54, so that the entire conveyor I6 may be withdrawn from the casing I4 upon release of the bearing 54. The driving pulley 45 is preferably connected to the drive shaft 44 through a friction clutch, and may be rotated by an electric motor 55 through a belt 56, and this motor may be carried by the casing supporting legs 24 as in Figs. 4 and 5, or it may be otherwise supported.

It is to be noted that all bearings are provided with suitable lubricating fittings. some of which are accessible from the exterior of the machine, and others of which are accessible upon removal of the covers.

During normal operation of the improved can washer, and assuming the parts to have been properlyadjusted and enclosed, the can transporting rotor and the feed conveyor I8 are being rotated through the friction clutch and drive shaft 44, by application of the driving belt 56 to the drive pulley 45, and cleansing iiuid is being delivered from the nozzles 4i past the valve 42and strainer 43 and through the pipes 35,

l2. 'I'he successive dirty cans 26 are being constantly supplied to the can chute l by gravity, from an overhead source, and rest upon their sides in substantially horizontal position as they descend through the chute I5. As the successive cans 2B engage the helical conveyor I6, the conl veyor flight engages and pushes the cans for- Ward and the overhanging open ends thereof drop slightly and engage the twisted inverted guide il as indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. l. The advancing cans 26 are subsequently urged along the guide Il and through the inlet casing i4 by the conveyor flight and are automatically inverted and positioned with their axes vertical; and the conveyor I6 thereafter pushes the vertical inverted cans 26 along the fixed guides 29, 30 into the successive notches 3l and upon the ledges 39 of the revolving member I3. The cans 26 when thus positioned upon the member i3 have their open lower ends in direct alinement with the corresponding spray nozzles 4l, and are retained in such position by the annular fixed guides 25 of the main casing t. The revolving member I3 then advances the upright cans 26 along the guides 25 and the friction at these guides gradually revolves the cans about their own axes while the nozzles 4I are delivering sprays of cleansing fluid into the interiors thereof. The excess cleansing iiuid ows through the open lower can ends and is deposited into the cup-shaped casing 8 from whence it is constantly drained, and when the successive cans are eventually carried by the can y hooks into engagement with the fixed upper inner dil . guide i9, they are jarred so as to augment the drainage by slight impact with the previously washed row of cans and are thereafter pushed along the guides I9 andsupports 20 of the discharge casing lli. Final drainage and air drying take place within the casing I8, and the cleansed and thoroughly dried cans 26 are ultimately delivered by gravity or otherwise, to a filling machine or the like.

llt will thus be noted that the successive cans 2li are automatically inverted, delivered through the main casing 8, and discharged from this casing in thoroughly drained condition, and that these cans are also thoroughly cleansed during their transportation through the machine. The twisted guide Il cooperating with the screw conveyor it, effectively changes the position of the successive cans 26 from horizontal to inverted vertical, and the various guides along which the cans are subsequently conducted, function without marring or denting the cans 26,' while the guides 25 also serve to rotate the cans about their own axes during transportation thereof through the cleansing chamber. It is to be noted that the sprays delivered from the nozzles 4I tend to slightly elevate the cans 26 and this makes Ait possible-for the guides 25 to produce rotation of the cans about their own axes.

It is also to be observed that the covers 2I 22 may be quickly removed by merely releasing the clamping bolts 2B, thereby permitting inspection to the major interior portion of the machine.

By removing the top plate 34, the transporting the-support I0 together with the pipes I2, blocks 40 and -nozzles 4I are thereafter freely vertically removable fromA the xed shaft 9 and from the bearing plate 33. All portions of the mechanism are thus quickly accessible for inspection, and the driving gearing is also made quickly accessible by the removabillty of the can transporting rotor. The construction of the rotor support I0 is also of importance, since the fluid distributing pipes I2 serve not only to support and to supply the nozzles Il with iuid, but also serve as supporting elements for the ring gear II. This produces a durable yet simple construction which can be manufactured at minimum cost, and the location of the drive between the Washing chamber and the-can supply chamber,makes it possible to transmit motion to the.conveyor I6 and can transporting rotor with minimum loss of power. The screw conveyor I6 may also be conveniently removed by merely releasing the bearing 54, and it will,be noted that all bearings are provided with suitable lubricant supply means so as to insure abundant lubrication thereof. The use of a friction clutch or similar motion transmitting member 55 between the driving pulley 45 and the shaft 44, is also of considerable importance since it will slip and prevent damage to the cans 26 and to the driving gearing in case they become jammed in the machine for any reason;

and the final air drying is also desirable in order to insure complete removal of moisture from the cans. The improved can Washer has proven highly successful in actual commercial operation, and is especially adapted for the cleansing of cap sealed beer cans, by virtue of the spacing of the ledge ring .39 from the member I3 and the disposition of the annular guides so that they will not interfere with the upper and lower enlarged ends of these cans.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction and to the Aprecise mode of operation herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

l. lIn combination, a casing forming a substantially circular cleansing chamber having adjoining can inlet and discharge portions forming a part of the chamber and extending away from the same side thereof, a fixed shaft projecting centrally into said chamber, a series of spray chamber having annular guides therein, a shaft fixed to said casing and projecting into said chamber centrally of said guides, a support journaled on said shaft, an annular series of spray nozzles carried by said support in proximity to said guides, a member detachably secured to said support and being revolvable about said shaft to transport inverted cans in succession through said chamber along said guides in alinement with said nozzles, a retainer carried by said shaft, said member being' freely upwaily removable from said shaft upon removal/of said retainer and closure, and means' for revolving said support and said member to cause the cansto contact said guides due to centrifugal force.

3. In combination. a casing forming a substantially circular cleansing chamber having adjoining can. inlet and discharge portions forming a part of the chamber and extending away from the same side thereof, a shaft extendingcentrally attached to said nozzles beneath said pipes, and

a driving pinion for saidlgear coacting therewith in a vertical radial plane of said shaft extending longitudinally through the can'inlet portion of said casing.

4. In combination, a casing forming a substantially circular cleansing chamber having adjoining can inlet and discharge portions forming a part of said chamber and extending away from the same side thereof, a shaft extending centrally into said chamber, a can support journaled on said shaft, a series of spray nozzles revolvable with said support and adapted to deliver fluid into the cans transported thereby, a screw conveyor confined within said inlet chamber portion and being'rotable to deliver successive cans in spaced relation and in upright position toward said support, and a twisted can guide disposed Within said chamber and coacting with said conveyor to invert the cans admitted to said chamber and to deliver the same in inverted position to said support.

5. In combination, a casing forming a substantially circular cleansing chamber having adjoining can inlet and discharge portions forming a part of the chamber and extending away from the same side thereof, a shaft extending centrally into said chamber, a can support journaled on said shaft, a series of spray nozzles revolvable with said support about the axis of said'shaft, a screw conveyor conned within said inlet chamber portion for delivering the successive cans to said support in alinement with said nozzles, and means confined within said outlet chamber portion for injecting drying iuid into the successive cans within said chamber after the washing uid has been drained therefrom.

6. In combination, a casing forming a cleansing chamber having annular fixed guides therein, a. shaft extending centrally into said chamber, a can support journaled on said'shaft and having a series of spray nozzles revolvable in proximity to said guides, and means for revolving said support to transport the successive cans along and to urge the side walls thereof in direct contact with said guides due to centrifugal force so as tov rotate each can about its own axis during revolution thereof about the shaft axis.

7. In combination, 'a casing forming a cleansing chamber having an annular xed guide therein, a. shaft extending centrally into said chamber, a can support journaled upon said shaft and having successive substantially semi-circular notches facing said guide and ledges extending outwardly beyond said notches beneath said guide, and means rotatable with said support for delivering cleansing liquid into receptacles coacting with said notches and resting upon said ledges. said guide being formed for direct engagement with the outermost side portions of the cans resting upon said ledges so as to rotate each can about its own axis during revolution of said support.

HENRY MONDLOCH. 

